It is sometimes hard for folks unfamiliar with Buddhist teachings to understand, but we actually see "excess desire, anger within and divisive thinking (ignorance)" as the real culprit in such events, including in the case of Las Vegas. We do not speak of "bad people", only sentient beings who do "bad acts" driven by the poison disease within. And, yes, we see both the violence doer and the recipient of violence, and all of us, as victims of that "greed anger and ignorance."
That does not mean that we do not put people in prison, or that the police did not need to use violence to stop this person to protect other lives. Unfortunately, all that is necessary in society. However, we see the real "evil doer" as the sickness in peoples' hearts, not the people themselves.
That is why, in our Metta Verses, we also ask that people like this know peace and equanimity ... with the thought that, if they truly had known peace and equanimity, they would not have acted so.
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
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